Page 5 of Courting Clemson

I screwed up my face while answering, “Nah, I usually stay near campus.”

“Oh,” she said, almost seeming to be thinking out loud. “I thought you lived in Orange County?”

“LA,” I corrected but wondered why that would matter? As usual, my thoughts must have been written all over my face.

“I just figured with home being so close, you’d do that.”

“Not much going on there,” I started to explain, and the three of them started giggling.

“Not much going on in Los Angeles? Are you serious?” the third girl added. I had no idea what her name was, even after spending most of my time with these people.

For whatever reason, I felt like I had to explain. “Well, as a city, of course there’s a ton to do. I was just thinking like with friends or whatever. Most of the people I know are away at school.”

Charlie spoke up. “That makes sense. You know, if you ever want to come out with us…” As soon as the words crossed her lips, the other two whipped their heads in her direction.

But the ringleader persisted. “We’ve been dating some local businessmen, and I think they have a friend who’s unattached.”

After that comment, the other girls got on board with her plan. “Oh, yeah. Brad, right?” Shelly, or Sheila, confirmed.

Charlie nodded with a mischievous grin, and something about the attempted setup felt off.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not really looking for a boyfriend,” I said, figuring they’d lose interest and go back to their own conversation.

Me and my nosy curiosity. Being in this awkward situation was my own fault. I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping on them in the first place.

But the third girl added, “Oh, they’re not boyfriends. We’ve just been hanging out. I have a boyfriend back home I’m madly in love with.”

Charlie and Shelly both rolled their eyes like they were standing in front of a mirror practicing synchronization.

“Oh, here she goes,” Shelly bemoaned. “Claire thinks she’s getting married to the hayseed, but we’re trying to convince her she’s too good for him.”

Okay, at least I knew her name now. But I really didn’t care about her boyfriend or any of the other details of this exchange.

“Come out with us this weekend. What could it hurt?” Charlie encouraged.

“I don’t think so,” I said.

Claire walked closer to where I was sitting on the locker room bench and sat down beside me.

I focused on tying my shoes instead of the fact the other two also crowded around me.

“Oh, don’t be so boring. You’re gorgeous and funny, and I know you’d have a great time. Give it a chance,” Charlie persuaded while reaching out to stroke my blond hair where it hung down my back. “I’m telling you, these men really know how to show a girl a good time. So different than the dumb boys we deal with around here.”

“Maybe next time,” I said while standing.

I was uncomfortable with the way they had circled around me like a pack of hungry coyotes. Next they’d start yipping and barking to confuse me into agreeing to go out with them.

After shoving my wet practice stuff into my bag, I slung the long strap across my chest and bolted for the door.

“See you all in the morning,” I said without looking over my shoulder. No way would I give any of them another chance to try to convince me to go out with them.

I had a lot of time to reexamine that conversation as I walked across campus. It was a beautiful spring day, so I had opted to walk to practice this morning rather than drive. I was especially glad for that decision after the experience I’d just had. Calming down while I crossed the school grounds was exactly what I needed. If I walked into the house looking the way I felt at the moment, my roommates would launch a manhunt for the three teammates that had me so shook.

No one could fix my loneliness but me. I knew that. It still didn’t make the idea of going out with my teammates any more appealing. Out of everything they’d said, the most interesting fact was these weren’t college guys they were dating.

Throughout my life, I’d always gravitated toward people older than myself. Maybe dating someone already out in the real world would be better for me. But what did a group of businessmen want with college girls? It seemed a little sleazy. None of us were technically underage, but how much could I have in common with a man like that?

No sense spending any more head time on that topic. I told them no, so they would probably never bring it up again. Though the lonely girl inside hoped they would.

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